Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame to induct 6 new members Saturday at Air Zoo in Portage

Photo courtesy of the Air Zoo.A photograph of Col. Robert Warren taken when he was the commanding officer of Marine Air Group 56. Warren, along with five others, will be enshrined into the Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame at the Air Zoo on Saturday.

PORTAGE — Col. Robert Warren, whose career with the Marines spanned three wars, has spent most of his life flying.

Warren, who was born in Benton Harbor and attended Michigan State University, served during World War II, the Korean War and the Viet­nam War and was among the first to fly helicopters for the United States military.

“I think I was very, very for­tunate to have gone through three wars without getting shot,” Warren said. “ That’s probably the first order of appreciation.”

During his career, Warren earned two Distinguished Fly­ing Crosses, the Air Medal, the Legion of Merit and the United Nations Korean Service Medal.

Hall of Fame class of 2011

The following people will be enshrined into the Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame on Saturday at the Air Zoo:

Warren, along with five others, will be inducted into the Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame on Saturday at a 6 p.m. enshrinement dinner and cer­emony at the Air Zoo, 6151 Por­tage Road in Portage.

The Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame is an Air Zoo program that honors men and women who have made significant contributions to aviation or space and have ties to Michi­gan, said Dani Nicholl, the Air Zoo’s public relations and mar­keting manager. “They’ve made huge contri­butions to aviation and space and they have such a rich his­tory,” Nicholl said. The enshrinement, held an­nually, started out in Lansing but was moved to the Air Zoo about five years ago, Nicholl said.

The Air Zoo accepts nomi­nations for the Michigan Avia­tion Hall of Fame year-round.

A committee of about 100 people votes to choose who is enshrined.

Also awarded at Saturday’s ceremony will be the Harriet Quimby Award, to Nancy Lynn Mess, and the Spirit of Flight Award, to the Tuskegee Airmen.